Automatic control apparatus for processing equipment



Dec. 22 1925- L. B. SWIFT AUTOMATIC CONTROL APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING EQUIPMENT Filed March 5, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVEMTOR. ..Zez1fl5B .510027 441. 5 ATTORNEY Dec. 22, 1925. l

L. B. SWIFT AUTOMATIC CONTROL APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING EQUIPMENT 4 Sheets- Sheet 2 Filed March 5. 1924 A} ATTORNVEY Dec. 22 1925.

, 1.. B. SWIFT AUTOMATIC CONTROL APPARATUS FOR PROCESSfENG EQUIPMENT Filed March 5. 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 7 Fig.5

'LZ5 ATTORNEY Dec. 22,1925.

L. B. SWIFT AUTOMATIC CONTROL APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING EQUIPMENT Filed March ,5. '1'9 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 1'5 ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 1925, f.

" UNlTED -STAIES LEWIS 1B. SWIFT, OI ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, COMPANIES, OI ROCHESTER, NEW YORK Assrexon r0. mama msrnum'r A conrom'rron or nnw toms] nu'rom'rrc con'rnor. Arrm'ws r03 rnocnssnie 3911mm.

. Application filed 5, i924. sen-rm). 097,107.-

I T a al l whom it citizenjof the United; States, residing at Rochester State of ,lTew York, "have invented certam new and useful Improvementsin Automatic,

Control Ap aratus for Processing Equipment; and ing to be a full, clear, and exact description of be same, reference-being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and, to the reference numerals marked thereon.

This. invention relates to. the automatic control of processing equi ment and more particularly to apparatus or automatically nism.sh0wn .in Figs. 1 and'2 withithe controlling as, for example, 7 processing containers requiring the performance of a series of operatingsteps in timed se uence, according to a predeterminedsched e, the chief object.

of the invention being to provide a thoroughly practical and comparatively simple apparatus of this nature adapted toauto-.

matically control the operation of a processing container during the major portion of the process, 'involvin for example, the 'accurate re ation o operating. conditions such as t e temperature in the container,

through a predetermined time interval and the indication of the-termination of such periodfi y I To: these and other ends the invention resides in.v certain improvements and combinations of arts all as will be hereinafterv more fully escribed, the novel features being pointed out in theclaims at the end of the specification.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1- is a. generalTlview partly diagram-, matic of an apparatus embodying the presthe container contents at the end of the ent invention.

Fig. 1' is'a planview of piping con'nec tions.

'- f Fig. 2. isan'enlargedlfragmentary. view of a control mechanism shown in Fig; 1* Fig. '3 is an enlarged s'ectional viawaof valve means shown also in "Fig; 5; Fig. 4 is a similar view of same operated device shown in:Fig,'.5 .1:

Fig. 5 is an elevationof a'control'mecha ing cover removed.-

Fig. is an enlarged sectional view of an .in the county of Monroe and.

ing details o *amsm shown m'Fig. 1; do hereby declare the follow;

the operation of such equipment fluid' ressure .an

automatic switch device shown in Fi n" Beit :known .thatai, Lnwrs BL, Swm, a

= Fig. 7 is a similar view of afluid p valveshown in Fig. 5; ;Fig. 8 is an enlarged section and Partly lllustli roken away, t-

elevation, partly 'in a portion of thecontrol mech Fig; 9 is a sectional view on the line v in .Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a fra enta view of ia settin isneang and dial as s een fi m the leftin' Fig Fig. 11 shows a solenoid mechanism for actuating certain of the parts. i Q

7 Similar reference numerals throughout the several views indicate the same parts.

The invention is disclosed hereinf'by Way of illustration, as applied to the control, of

a processing container equipment, in the present an ice cream freezer, requlring periodicalffilling with the material to be treated and the discharge of same, and: simultaneous control of its temperature by the regulation of the supply t ereto'iof a temperature controlling medium such for in:

stance bri ne. The present embodiment of the nvent on provides for the automatic control of. those operating steps-of the process requiring time consuming attention and accuracy, involving automatic control of -'the supply of the brine, the timingof the coolin or whipping period and the actuation o a signal indlcatin the termination of such period, in order t at the attendant may .then terminate the rocess. Referring more specifically to t e drawings,

thereis shown at 15, Fig. 1, a freezingcontainer of a form in common use, comprising aninlet connection 16 with a suitable. source of sup 1y of the material or mixture to be treate At-17 is an outlet fordischarging process. The container is provided witha cooling coil or jacket, as well understood in 'the art, supplied with brine through a ipe v -'18 and discharged through a pipe 19.

21 if and when desired. Ordinarily the brine flows from pipe 25 throng a .to valve 21 and under control h pi e 24 the atter either through pipe to the container or through by-' ass 26, to return pi e 27. For controlling t e temperature of t e container a temperature responsive device is employed comprising, in the present instance, a ther-- mometer bulb inserted throu 'h the container wall into the mixture and having connected therewith a tube 31 leading to .re-

33 Fig. 8, of the. Bourdon t cording instrument 32. The latter comprises a device such as a coiled, flexible tube e with which tu e 31 communicates. T ese parts are filled with a fluid expandin with increases in temperature to which t e bulb is sub-e jected, such variations in pressure serving to move the free outer end of the tube 33 as well understood in the art. Connected with and actuated by the tube 33' is atemperature recording mechanism of any known or suita- Y v ble type comprising the usual pen arm 34 Y chart 35 in a casing 36, for recording the tem erature conditions in the container.

control mechanism, hereafter described, for

, part and throng the brine. I 7 a The electrical relay device comprises, pref- 'ope1'1ir1g' in the post, the spin ly supported in a forwardl extending lug r 42 of late 37. This end 0 thespindle 1s swinging over and marking a clock driven se is advantageously made 'in the present instance of the recorder mechanism for operating a relay connected with an automatic controllingythe brine supply .valve 21 and for-operating a signal means, at the propertimes. That is to say, each processing c cle is vbegun byv filling the container wit a ,7 mixture and manually starting the supply of brine to; the container tor cooling the same. 'This produces a continuous drop in temperature accompanied eventually by an actuation :of the sensitive element 33 of the recorder. and when the latter reaches a position corresponding to a predetermined temperature,-1t' actuates the relay described above fore crating the controlmechanism the latter valve-21 to by-pass erably, a plate'37, Figs. 8 and 9, fixed on the rear wall of the recorder casin and carrying a post orstu'd 38 on which is adjustably pivoted a plate 39-0n which the operating e ,are carried. Plate 39 has a. post 40 andi a threaded spindle 41 engages a tapped le being rotatsquare as at 43 for engagement'by a key inserted through a central opening in a' glass window 44in the side'of the casing.

Window preferabl has its openm finished with a metal sleev'e 45: as showi i and normally closed by a cover 46 pivoted at 47 on an arm "48-carried .by. sleeve 45.

.The window opening is thus normally rendered dust proof by means avoiding interferin v with the vision; Lug 42 carries adial 49, F g. '10, graduated in de ees of temperature, and coo rating wit the dial is a po nter 50 fixe on the spindle end 43. The spindle may thus be readily rotated by means of a key'to setthe' pointer for a desired temperature and this adjusts plate 39 to efl'ect o eration at such temperature, as hereafter escribed.

Pivotally supported on a post 38". carried by plate 39 are a pair of contact arms 51and 52. The outer ends of these arms are preferably of insulating material to which are fixed conducting strips'53 having contact points 54. A-s'pring 55 fixed team 51 and to a est 56 holds this arm against a stop 57. I rm 52, however, swings freely on its pivot in such a position that it is normally swung by gravity to carry its strips 53 against post 56. with the contacte 54 in spaced relation. The strip, 53- 'of arm=52 is connected by conductor 58 with a binding post 59 connected by a conductor- 60 with an external binding post 61 of the casing. The strip 53 of arm 51 is connected' b y a conductor 62 with a binding post 63 connected by a conductor 64 with an external binding post 65 in the casing wall, and by-this means.

an'external relay circuitl'may be connected to include the contacts 54.- An extension 66 of arm 52 projects into the path of movementof an arm 67 fixed to the moving end of the temperature responsive element or coil-33 so that the contracting movement of this element, asthe temperature falls event: ually causes its arm 67 to engage and swing 'arm 52 to close contacts 54 and thus-complete the relay circuit. Such closing of the cir- I-cuit occurs at the temperaturexof the container for which pointer 50 is. set as above described.

The .relay thus operated by the recorder mechanism'comprises conductors 68 and 69 attached to. the' binding posts 61 and 65 resectivel Conductor 68 is .connected wit one side 70 of an electricalsupply line leadingto a binding post 71 on the control ,mechanism which latter is indicated generally at 72. The other relay conductor 69 leads to a .binding'post 72'on the controller casing. The latter carries alsoa binding post 73 with which the other side 74 of the supply line is connected. v

. The control mechanism proper, 7 2 is of a unitary character within a'casing generally similar to that of the recorder 32 as shown. 1

and these two instruments are ada ted to be located at some distance from t e freezer equipment if so desired. The control mech anism as best shown in Fig. 5 comprises a fluidpressure or secondary air valve 75 supplied with pressure through a line 76 leading to a nipple 77 in the side of the casing with which is connected a line 78 leading to a source of compressed air at 79-is' a trap. The outlet side of valve 75 is connected by a pipe 80 with a nipple 81 in the casing with which is connected a pipe 22 leading to the automatic brine valve 21, so that this secondary valve controls the alternate supply and by-p'assing of the brine. Its construction is shown in Fig. 3 as comprising a seat 82 with one side of which communicates a .port 83 with which the supply line 76 is connected. Communicating with the other side of the seat is a bore 84 and communicatin with this is a port 85 with which the out et pipe 80 connects. Sliding in bore 84 is a valve. stem 86' o crating a valve 87 normally urged toward its seat by a spring 88. At 89, Fig. 5, is a nipple communieating with theoutlet port ofthe valve and fitted with a. plug having a small vent' opening 90 for relieving pressure in this line. Valve stem 86 is operated to unseat the valve to transmit pressure by the engagement therewithof a plunger 91 sliding in suitable bearings in a bracket 92, in alignment with the valve stem. The lower end of the plunger is positioned for engagement by a lug 93 connected with the vertically reciprocating armature of a solenoid 95. vThis solenoid device preferably comprises a de-' tent arm 96 pivoted at one end to the armature and sliding at the other in a 0st 97, compression spring 98 being carried etween the post and an abutment of. the arm to serve as-an overthrow device yieldably retaining the armature in either the raised'or lowered position to which it maybe moved. Pivotally connected with .the armature also is a rocking lever 99 one arm of which carries the abutment 93 while the other carries a switch actuating head 100 of insulating material. Solenoid 95 is connected at one end as shown by a conductor 101 with binding post 72. The other terminal is connected by a conductor 102 with a binding post 103 and by the conducting strip 104 with the pivot 105 of a switch arm 106. A spring 107 normally swings the armto en age a switch arm 108 connected with a binding post 109 and by a conductor 110 with bind-' ing post 73. It is apparent from these con- 7 nections that when the relay circuit is closed by the recorder at the desired freezing temperature, solenoid 95 is energized to raise armature. 94: which operates to unseat valve 82 andiat the same time to disengage switch arms 106 and 108 thereby breaking the cir- Quit to-xtlie solenoid. The retaining device however holds the armature elevated and valve {82' 'unseated. Pressure isthus trans stand at the predetermined temperature' which it holds substantially constant by reason of the insulated container construction commonly employed. At the end of the process the solenoid is reset in initial or inactive position by pulling'down a handle 111 connected with the lower end of the armature and extending through an opening in the bottom of the instrument casing. Such lowering of the armature of course, permits closing of switch arms 106 and 108 preparatory to the next operation of the solenoid.

The period for which the material is subjected to the freezin temperature is automatic. lly measured by a clock mechanism forming a part of the controller and indicated generally at 112.. Such mechanism may have any known or suitable construction, comprising preferably the usual balance wheel 113 and a winding stem 114, Fig. 2. This clock mechanism is initially set to operate for the desired whipping period by turning a stem 114 to set the pointer 115 fixed thereon in registry with the desired after described. The clock mechanism, having thus been set for the desired period, is started automatically upon the attainment of the whipping temperature by means 10 which will now'be described.

The clock starting device comprises a cylinder 117 best shown in Fig. 4 in which slides a piston 118 on a stem 119. The piston is urged toward one end ot'the cylinder by a compression spring 120 while the opposite endof the cylinder has connected therewith a pipe 121 branching from the outlet of valve 75. At the same, time therefore that the latter is operated by the solenoid to operate valve 21 to by-pass the brine, piston 118 is moved toward the left and retained in such position so long as the solenoid armature remains elevated. The piston stem 119 has pivotally connected therewith a lever 122 pivotally supported at the clock setting stem 114, the ring having.

at one point an opening 126. Cooperating with this ring is a pin 127 fixed in the end of an mm 128. The latter is pivoted at 129 to swing horizontally on a head 130 fixed on crablybev" V p gdovinwardly' zb'y turning post. 131,. arm 128' a post 131 rotatably supported in any suitab e manner on the instrument casing and having a knob131atits outer end,las shown for. pivotallyadjusting the same..--;This head carries alsoin'addition to amp-128, a spring fing rless L'dioienga" 'g la raise the .stem 133 hi s v vie '134i-hereafter' described. 'Am 128. is actuated toward 125' 1. to e g g i P n'1 i f ri g. y means of;.a le' a fspring 135. The pin 127, or-

the outer;

so that' asthe armfis swung swings first outwardly .on the headwhen its pin i127engages the-ringand then inwardl ,t-o 'engaget-he'pin'withinthe ring by whic it is: retained until the 'rotation of the ring by the 'clockbrings the ring opening 126 [over the pin which is thereupon released.

When the pin is engaged within the ring' as just described, finger 132 is in position to raise the 'stem of valve 134. Arm 128 however is swung, when released by the ring,

to carry finger 132 away from the valve stem, by a tensioncpring 136 connectedto the head 130 and .to'the casing: The head carries. a suitable dial-137 in this instance marked with the words On and 011', one

predetermined period, is shown in detail in of which is visible through an openin the instrument casing in each positiono the headto indicate the same.

Valve 134 thus operated at the end of a Fig. 7 as comprising a seat 138 between an inletair port 139 and outlet port 140. A

valve body 141 is urged away from its seat by a spring 142, the valve body having a stem 1143' projecting downwardly for engagementbythe finger 132 previously de-' scribed.- Valve inlet 139 is connected by a a pipe 144*with the supply nipple 77 in thecasing wall while its outlet 140 is connected by a'conductor-145- with an automatic, switch 146. for operating an electric signal such for example as asuitable lamp 147, the lighting of which signals the attendant that the desired whipping period has expired.

a The automatic switch for operating the signal lamp comprises a cylinder 148 in which-"slides a piston 149 between an inletpea-150 connected with pipe 145 and a vent port 151. The piston carries a bridging contact 15 2 adapted to connect a palrf of insulated contacts 153 in a plug 154 screwed into the cylinder casing, the plug contacts being connected by conductors 155, the one with binding post 71 "-on the instrumentfcasing and the other with thesi nal vla'1npf147 supported on the rear wa of the instrmnent casing and showing through'a glass window 156 in its front cover. 7 The other lamp terminal is con-.

; nectedby a conductor "157 with a resistance 7 element 158 and \the latter is connected by a conduct-M159 post 73, so

serves to move, t to close the switch. Such supply 'offl pressure is efl'ected as already stated by the i release and opening of secondary valve'134 by the release of arm 128-by the clock mech- .to be frozen, the

the correspon mg reduction of pressure 'clock starting device toeffect timing that the and 1am are in a series with each other across t e" supply circuit -74. A; compression spring 160 inthe cylindergtends'to maintain the piston eon-j V 'tact l52'separated from the contacts 153 to open ltheswitch. The application'of fluid ressurefto the other, end of the, cylinder, owever, through e'pistonagainst the spring anis n at the end of the whipping eriod. In operation, the spindle 43 o the recorder 32 'is key set to register pointer. 50

with the temperature indication on dial 49 corresponding to the tem erature down to which it is desired to cool t e mixture. This adjusts the extension 66, Fig. 8, to position. 'for actuation by the arm 67 of the temperatu're responsive element of the recorder to close contact 54- of the relay circuit at'the' selected temperature. The clock mecha-. nism; is wound by turning stem .114, Fig. 2. The clock 'ointer115 is set 'by-stem 114 to the num er of minutes'on dial 116 corresponding to the-whipping period. Knob 131 is turned. toward-the right to engage arm 128 with the ring 125 of the clock'as described, in which position the 'word Oni 164. Handle 111,

appears at the opening Fig. 5, is pulled down to lower the armature and effect the closing of valve ,75.- Fluid pressure is supplied to the control mechanlsm through pipe 78, Fig.1, as by turnng the pet cock 165. The container discharge valve 17 being closed and thecontainer having been filled withthe mixtureroeess is started by manually turning on the supply of brine to valve 21 which at this time is open. and permits .the brine to flow through the freezer coils,

thus starting the process cycle.

The mixture in the container cooled by the continued circulation of brine until its temperature is reduced to the predeterminedwhippin point. Whenthisisreached,

in the temperature responsive element 33 permits the latter to contract';' as well under- 1 stood in theart, close the relay contacts 54 and-thus ener iz'e solenoid of the controller 72. T e armature of the latter is pipe' 145, as described,

isters with and releases arm 128. The

' latter and the head 130 carrying the same,

togetherwith the spindle 132, are thrown by s ring 136 to the position shown in Fig. 2, re easing valve 141, Fig. 7, which is moved by its spring to open position transmitting air pressure tothe automatic switch 14.6. This closes theswitch which connects the signal lam 147 across the electrical supply line, lighting the lamp to signal to the attendant that the whipping period has been completed. The brine supply line is then closed by a hand valve, air pressure is shut off from the controller by closing pet cock 165, and the cooled mixture discharged from the freezer by opening valve 17 The processing cycle is then repeated with a new batch of the mixture, as already described. The invention thus provides a practical and com aratively simple mechanism for automatically controlling the processing equipment during the IHHIJOI' portion of the process cycle in a manner aflording greater accuracy of control as well as economy of time and labor. The control mechanism is conveniently set to predetermined temperatures and time periods, and while herein disclosed as applied to a cooling process, it is obviously applicable as well to a heating process, as well as to other processes and equipment. L

I claim as my invention:

1. In apparatus of the character described, a container, means for supplying thereto a medium for controlling the temperature therein, time control mechanism provided with means for starting the same, signalmeans operated by said mechanism, a sensitive device responsive to the temperature in said container and connected with said starting means for actuating the same at a predetermined temperature in said container, and mechanism for automatically operating said supply means coincidently with the starting of said time control mechanism.

2. In apparatus of the character described, a container, means for supplying thereto a medium for controlling the temperature therein, time control mechanism provided with means for starting the same, signal means operated by said mechanism, a sensitive device responsive to the temperature in said container and actuating connections between said sensitive device and starting means and supply means for operating the same at a predetermined temperature in said container.

3. In apparatus of the character described, a container, means for supplying thereto a medium for controlling the temperature therein, time control mechanism provided with means for starting the same, signal means operated by said mechanism,

a sensitive devloe responsive to the tem perature insaid container, recording means governed by said device, andv relay mechanism comprising motor means connecting said device with said supply means and starting means for operating the same at a predetermined temperature in said container. y

4. In apparatus of the character described, a container, a conducting system for supplying a temperature controllingmedium to said container, a fluid pressure operated valve governing said system, pres sure conducting means for said valve governed by a secondary valve, time control mechanism having fluid pressure operated means for starting and stopping the same connected with said pressure conducting means, signal f'means operated by said time mechanism, a temperature responsive device, subjected to the temperature of said container, and actuating means connecting said device with said secondary valve for operating the same at a predetermined container temperature.

5. In apparatus of the character described, a container, means for supplying thereto a medium for controlling the temperature therein, time control mechanism provided with means for starting the same, signal means operated by said mechanism, a sensitive device responsive to the temperature in said container and electrical means including a solenoid connecting said device with said supply means and starting means for operating the same at a predetermined temperature in said container:

6. In apparatus of the character described, a container, means for supplying thereto a medium for controlling the temperature therein, time control mechanism adapted to be set for difierent control periods and provided with means for start ing and stopping the same, an electric signal lamp and a switch governing the same,

fluid pressure means for actuating said v switch arranged for operation by said time mechanism at the end of a control period, a sensitive device responsive to the temperature in said container, and actuating means connecting said device with said supply means and with said starting and stopping means for operating the same at a predetermined temperature in said container.

7. In apparatus of the character described, a container, means for supplying theretoa medium for controlling the temperature therein, time control mechanism provided with means for selectively setting the same for different control periods, signal means operated by said mechanism at the end of a selected period, a sensitive device, adjustably responsive to the temperature in said container, and apparatus actuv cally operatingsaid supply means and starting the operation of said time mechanism. 8. In ap' "atus of the character described, a container, means for supplying thereto a medium for controlling the tem perature -therein, signal means, a time control mechanism adapted to be selectively set for operation throu h different control periods and provided with means for operating said signal means at the end of said periods, motor means for operating said supply means, and starting said time mechanism arranged for manual movement to an initial inactive position, a sensitive device responsive to the temperature in said container, and an actuating connection between said device and motor means for effecting active movement thereof at a predetermined temperature in said container.

9. In apparatus of the character desaid switch having a secondary valve, time control mechanism adapted to be selectively set to operate for different control periods and provided with means for operating said secondary valve at the end of said eriods,

fluid pressure means for starting sa1d time mechanism, pressure conducting means for operating said main valve and starting means including an auxiliary control valve, a solenoid for operating said auxiliary valve and a sensitive device subjected and re-o sponsive to the temperature in said container for operating said solenoid.

LEWIS B. svvn r. 

